The ICC charges against Ruto, Sang

September 7, 2013 8:05 am

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By JUDIE KABERIA, It is alleged that Ruto and Sang, as 2006 to January 2008 “planned to expel individuals namely members of the Kikuyu, Kamba, and Kisii (later referred to as PNU supporters)”/AFPNAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 7 – According to the Document Containing Charges (DCC) released on August 1, 2011, Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua arap Sang planned attacks in the Rift Valley during the 2007-8 post election violence.

It is alleged that Ruto and Sang, as early as 2006 to January 2008, “planned to expel individuals namely members of the Kikuyu, Kamba, and Kisii (later referred to as PNU supporters).”

They are accused of creating a network of perpetrators which by 2008 had conducted “not less than nine preparatory meetings and events” in which they planned attacks on rival Party of National Unity (PNU) supporters.

Ruto and Sang were at the time members and supporters of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), a rival of former President Mwai Kibaki’s PNU.

According to the ICC prosecution, Ruto and Sang were members of the network that had commanders who controlled attacks in specific parts of the Rift Valley.

The commanders were also in charge of logistics including transportation and coordination of the attacks as well as fundraising for the attacks and identification of areas that were attacked.

The commanders also identified callers to call into Sang’s show in regards to the planned attacks as well as “to provide guns, grenades and ammunition to the direct perpetrators to permanently drive out PNU supporters.”

According to the DCC (2011) the commanders used derogatory terms like madoadoa, kimoriok, and kamama as parables to refer to the targeted groups and take what belonged to them.

Sang allegedly used his show to coordinate attacks using coded language known to the perpetrators.

The network is said to have recruited and established groups of direct perpetrators to carry out attacks around December 30, 2007 to January 2008 in Turbo town, greater Eldoret area in Kiambaa, Yamumbi, Huruma and Kimumu.

JUDIE KABERIA Judie, an Associate Editor has worked as a journalist in Kenya and Germany. She has a Master's Degree in New Media, Governance and Democracy, University of Leicester (U.K). She has scooped 10 journalistic awards. She has participated in international conferences in Germany, Switzerland, United States and Netherlands. Judie has written a booklet, 'Justice and Peace in the Kenyan Eye'. She has a soft spot for human rights, crime, peace and justice stories.